מכתב: T-S 12.425

Translated by Amir Ashur and Benjamin M. Outhwaite.

A letter of mine was previously sent to [my esteemed master Sa‘d] al-Mulk—may God prolong his life . . . [regarding] Zayn al-Kuttāb, and what he has so far achieved in his reading—may God raise him to a higher station and cause you to delight in him. It is the case that he has now read five parashot [sections] of the Torah, and today he [is reading] from the parashah Ve-aḥare mot [Leviticus 16:1–18:30]. And when his grandfather, my lord “The Chief” [al-‘amīd], arrived back from his voyage, he [the boy] read before him, and his grandfather was filled with an overwhelming delight—may God Almighty grant him constant joy in him.

And I have been waiting for an answer to my letter that will please me and revive my efforts with the boy, in accordance with what I am used to from you, and in accordance with your previous generosity to me. Your generosity encompasses everyone, but it should certainly come to one who serves you, as I do. And in conclusion, I have produced a new, second letter, as a reminder of the former one, that you should act toward me in the manner to which I am entitled and deserve from you, in accordance with what I have done. And if I cannot enjoy the generosity of someone like you and adorn myself with your favor and with what will come to me from you, in whom should I glory?! And I am waiting for all of that, so I may thank Him and pray for you to a degree in accordance with your kindness, in which I have previously gloried. . . . [Send greetings to] the mistress [perhaps the boy’s grandmother] from me and inform her that I pray for her day and night, for what I previously received from her favor and for what I await from her generosity. This was written in the six last days of Kislev, and I congratulate them for the forthcoming holiday—May God grant you many more celebrations like it . . .